A Palm Beach County resident has filed a lawsuit against a major retail corporation and its store manager, alleging negligence that led to significant personal injuries. Mickie Panzer lodged the complaint in the Circuit Court of the 15th Judicial Circuit in Palm Beach County, Florida, on August 12, 2024, naming Macy’s Corporate Services, LLC and Jacqueline Barucci as defendants.
According to the court documents, Panzer claims that on May 22, 2024, she was shopping at Macy’s department store located at 801 N Congress Avenue in Boynton Beach when she tripped over an uneven section of flooring in the petite section of the store. The complaint details that the wood or laminate flooring was buckling and created a hidden tripping hazard that Panzer could not see. This hazard allegedly caused her to fall and sustain serious injuries. The plaintiff argues that Macy’s and Barucci were aware or should have been aware of this dangerous condition but failed to take appropriate measures to either rectify it or warn customers about it.
The complaint outlines several accusations against both defendants. For Macy’s Corporate Services, LLC, Panzer asserts that the company had a non-delegable duty to maintain its premises safely and warn customers of any concealed dangers. The plaintiff alleges that Macy’s failed in this duty by allowing the hazardous condition to exist without adequate warning or remediation efforts. Specific allegations include failing to inspect and maintain the floor properly, not discovering the hazard before it caused harm, and lacking sufficient policies for identifying safety hazards.
Against Jacqueline Barucci, who served as General Manager of the store at the time of the incident, Panzer claims she had a duty to ensure the store was safe for shoppers. The lawsuit accuses Barucci of multiple failures including not implementing proper safety policies, neglecting to instruct employees adequately on maintaining safe conditions, failing to personally inspect the floors periodically, and not taking steps to block off or warn about hazardous areas.
Panzer is seeking damages exceeding $50,000 exclusive of costs, interest, and attorney's fees for bodily injury resulting in pain and suffering, disability, disfigurement, mental anguish, loss of enjoyment of life, medical expenses for hospitalization and treatment as well as aggravation of pre-existing conditions. These damages are claimed to be either permanent or continuing.
Representing Mickie Panzer are attorneys Dax Bello (Florida Bar No. 59881) and Andres Hidalgo (Florida Bar No. 1049896) from Stewart Tilghman Fox Bianchi & Cain P.A., based in Miami.
The Case Number: 502024CA007609XXXAMB Div: AD.